Synopsis

Meet the World's Funniest Kindergartner—Junie B. Jones!

With over 50 million books in print, Barbara Park's New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing—and reading—for over 20 years! In the 7th Junie B. Jones book, there's a new boy in kindergarten, and guess what? He's the handsomest guy Junie B. has ever seen. She and Lucille and that Grace all want him for a boyfriend. Only, he thinks Junie B. is a nutball. Just 'cause she couldn't stop laughing and rolling. So how is she supposed to get that boy to love her?

"Grace! Grace! Guess what? Lucille is going to introduce us to Handsome Warren! 'Cause you and me are big pigs, that's why!"

That Grace looked upset at me.

"I am not a big pig," she said.

I quick whispered in her ear. "Yeah, only we're not really big pigs, Grace. We just have to say we're big pigs. Or else Lucille thinks we will steal her boyfriend. Get it?"

That Grace got it.

"I am a giant stink hog," she said to Lucille.

And so after that, all of us skipped to the swing set very happy.

We sat down. And waited for Room Eight to come out.

We waited a real long time.

Then all of a sudden, Room Eight opened their door! And Handsome Warren came out of there!

Lucille runned to him and grabbed his hand.

She pulled him to the swings to meet us.

"That is Grace. And that is Junie B. Jones," she said to Handsome Warren.

He waved very cute and friendly.

I quick hided behind my hands.

'Cause all of a sudden I felt shy of that guy.

I peeked through my fingers.

"Peekaboo. I see you," I said.

Then I laughed and laughed. 'Cause I'm a laugh a minute, that's why.

I kept on laughing at that funny joke.

Only too bad for me.

'Cause after while, I couldn't even stop.

I was out of control, I think.

I holded my sides and fell on the ground.

Then I rolled and laughed and rolled and laughed. All around in the grass.

Handsome Warren looked nervous of me.

He backed up.

"What a nutball," he said very soft.Then he turned around. And walked away.

And Lucille and that Grace walked with him.

Excerpted from Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren (Junie B. Jones) by Barbara Park; illustrated by Denise Brunkus. . Excerpted by permission of Random House Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Table of Contents

"My second-grade son has never been all that interested in reading. He came home one day asking if I have ever read about Junie B. Jones. I bought a set of Junie B. books, and now I walk past his room and he is reading on his own!"—Nancy G., Indiana

"I have a six-year-old daughter who was fighting us on learning to read. One day, I heard her teacher reading a Junie B. story. We went to our library and checked out every Junie B. book they had. Now we go through one every three days!"—Sandra L., Idaho

"Our family wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your Junie B. Jones books. Our son brought one home from school and we read it together. We all laughed through the whole book."—Idaho family

"My daughter and I love Junie B. Jones. She had some difficult times reading in second grade. Your books really helped her have fun while she reads."—Barbara M., New Jersey

"I would like to let you know how much pleasure your books have given us. After my older daughter finishes them, I read them to my six-year-old. You give this world such a gift with your books."—Amy D., Florida

"I've been teaching for 29 years. My class has never enjoyed story time as much [as when I started reading Junie B. Jones.] The class enjoyed her not-so-perfect grammar. We used her sentences for our daily oral language lesson."—Angie T., Pennsylvania

"In my experience, students no matter what their age have enjoyed your Junie B. books. Whenever the day is particularly hectic, I can rely on a Junie B. time-out for a relaxing laugh and a reminder to look on the lighter side. You have saved my sanity more times than you can ever know!"—Shelley M., Maryland

"You have made even my most reluctant readers look forward to each new chapter."—Mary Ann O., Illinois

"Junie B. has touched the hearts of all my students throughout the year. She has become a part of our school lives . . . and in a way, another member of our class."—Amy P., New Jersey

"I've been a teacher for more than 30 years and just discovered Junie B. Jones. I noticed that children have an increased enthusiasm for reading as a direct result of your books."—Rona G., Maryland

"I cannot tell you how much I love reading your books! My mom and I laugh so hard, our stomachs hurt and we get tears in our eyes."—Kristi O., Pennsylvania

"I love Junie B. Jones! Every time I go anywhere in the car, I bring at least five Junie B. Jones books. I can't leave home without them."—Liz O., New Jersey

"Your books are so cool. You write your books so they relate to life."—Kayla O., Pennsylvania

"I love Junie B. Jones books. I think they are so funny I could read them all day and laugh out loud. But in the afternoon, I want to watch Arthur."—Laura P., Iowa

About Barbara Park

Barbara Park was best-known as the creator and author of the New York Times bestselling Junie B. Jones series, the stories of an outrageously funny kindergartener who has kept kids (and their grownups) laughing—and reading—for over two decades. Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, the series has sold 55 million copies in North America alone, has been translated into multiple languages and is a beloved and time-honored staple in elementary school classrooms around the world.

The series was consistently a #1 New York Times bestseller, spending over 180 weeks on the list, and Barbara and her books were profiled in such national outlets as Time, Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, and Today.

Park died on November 15, 2013 after fighting ovarian cancer heroically for seven and a half years.

Barbara Park arrived at the writing profession through an indirect route. Before becoming a bestselling and beloved children’s author, she originally intended to teach high school history and political science. She got her secondary education degree but quickly realized that her calling was to be a writer. She said, “My senior year of high school, I was voted ‘Wittiest.’ So several years later, I decided to try my hand at writing humor and see if I could be witty enough to make some money.”

After several rejections, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers acquired her first manuscript, Operation: Dump the Chump and two others. Don’t Make Me Smile was published first in 1981, followed by Operation: Dump the Chump (1982) and Skinnybones (1982).

She went on to write over fifty books, from the picture book Ma! There’s Nothing to Do Here!, a love letter to her grandson, to middle grade novels such as Skinnybones, The Kid in the Red Jacket, Mick Harte Was Here, and The Graduation of Jake Moon. Barbara won more than forty children’s book awards, including several Children’s Choice Awards.

On writing books for kids, Barbara once said: “There are those who believe that the value of a children’s book can be measured only in terms of the moral lessons it tries to impose or the perfect role models it offers. Personally, I happen to think that a book is of extraordinary value if it gives the reader nothing more than a smile or two. In fact, I happen to think that’s huge.”

Every bit as funny and as outrageous as her best-known character, Barbara shared a special connection with Junie B. Jones. She once said of the series, “I’ve never been sure whether Junie B.’s fans love her in spite of her imperfections . . . or because of them. But either way, she’s gone out into the world and made more friends than I ever dreamed possible.”

Barbara Park was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, on April 21, 1947, and spent most of her adult life in Arizona. There she, with her husband, Richard, raised her two sons and spent time with her two young grandsons.

Throughout her life, Barbara was passionate about supporting many causes. She was a “wish” for several children participating in the Make-a-Wish Foundation and would dedicate her upcoming books to kids whose dying wish was to meet her. Barbara also founded her own charitable organization with her husband, Richard—Sisters in Survival (“SIS”), a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering financial assistance to ovarian cancer patients. SIS is an all-volunteer organization, and all donations go directly to women struggling with ovarian cancer. Barbara’s family will continue to run SIS. (www.sistersinsurvival.org)